KUALA LUMPUR — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has written to United States President Donald Trump to propose a meeting between the US and Asean leaders, citing the need for dialogue amid increasing protectionist policies and escalating trade frictions.
Speaking at the opening of the 46th Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Anwar said the letter was written following consensus reached among Asean foreign ministers during their meeting in Langkawi earlier this year.
"As the mandate and consensus achieved by the Foreign Ministers in Langkawi earlier this year, I have taken the liberty to write to president Donald J. Trump to seek his understanding to organise a US, Asean meeting, which means we observe seriously the spirit of centrality," he said in his keynote address.
Malaysia, which holds the Asean chairmanship for 2025, is hosting the first of two summits scheduled for this year. Anwar said the region is facing heightened geopolitical and economic uncertainty, underpinned by shifts in the global order and renewed trade restrictions.
“A transition in the geopolitical order is underway and the global trading system is under further strain, with the recent imposition of US unilateral tariffs. Protectionism is resurging as we bear witness to multilateralism breaking apart at the seams,” he said.
He also stressed that Asean’s future lies in fostering growth that is both fair and sustainable, supported by regional unity and resilience.
“It speaks not only to our aspirations, but to our obligations. It is anchored in the conviction that Asean's future must rest on the twin pillars of equitable, sustainable growth and enduring resilience.”
Highlighting the importance of regional cohesion, Anwar said the recent ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)-China Summit reflects the growing significance of inter-regional partnerships in an increasingly multipolar world.
“The ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)-China Summit symbolises the power of cohesiveness of regional blocs which would have a positive impact on the world at large,” he said.
Anwar also underlined the importance of maintaining the multilateral order and urged Asean nations to remain committed to shaping a future that is both inclusive and sustainable. The theme for Malaysia’s chairmanship this year is ‘Inclusivity and Sustainability’.
Heads of government attending the summit include Sultan of Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, and Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
Timor Leste’s Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão was also present as an observer, alongside Asean Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn.
This marks Malaysia’s fifth time leading Asean, having previously served as chair in 1977, 1997, 2005, and 2015. As part of the summit programme, two key engagements — the second ASEAN-GCC Summit and the inaugural ASEAN-GCC-China Summit — will be held, aimed at enhancing collaboration between Asean and other regional blocs. - May 26, 2025
The post Anwar calls for Asean-US summit in letter to Trump appeared first on Scoop.
